Aqua’s outburst was unexpected. Andrea was unsure how to best handle the situation without agitating them further. “I… I didn’t make you do anything.” Was all she could muster as a response.

A clawed hand gently grabbed the furious teen’s shoulder. It was Missy. Sensing their frustration, the Kangaskhan gave them a nurturing look and nodded, as if telling them that it was okay to accept someone else’s kindness.

“It’s true that I should hate Rocket, but I don’t. Not all of them.” Andrea began to speak again. “So what if you’re a wanted criminal? That doesn’t make you evil. I’ve seen true evil. It’s greedy and cares nothing about others, whether it’s people or Pokémon. I think that you do care. No-one who doesn’t care goes to such lengths to protect something.”

“Slooooooooow.” Bronson the Slowking gave a sagely nod.

“Now that we got that out of the way, I should tell you that you actually passed!” The eccentric woman declared, spreading her arms far and wide. “I never said that the challenge was about making the perfect sandwich. Nobody’s perfect. It was about testing the bond between you and your Pokémon. Being able to work together even on the most mundane task means that you truly are a team! A family even!”

Aqua Kennedy //non-traditional

☉